Nagpur: Oxygen shortage continues

The day after the private Covid hospital pressed the emergency button, the NMC issued a strict recommendation prohibiting referral of serious patients to public hospitals without confirming the availability of beds and ventilators.

“Many deaths were reported shortly before or shortly after arrival,” it says. Private hospitals argued that oxygen deficiency continued and ventilators were forced to transfer patients to medical colleges and other hospitals.

The hospital complained that the helpline for O2-related inquiries also did not respond. Avinash Katade, a resident deputy collector and node officer for oxygen supply, did not answer the question.

However, the government insisted on improving the availability of medical oxygen, stating that hospitals were only guaranteed supply on Sundays, and uncertainty spread over the next few days. The manufacturer said the supply relies on staff and transport vehicle reports that may remain off duty for Holi on Monday.

Some hospitals, which have more than 100 patients, said they have no plans to discharge them at this time and are doing their best to procure oxygen and arrange ventilators.

The district received about 400 empty jumbo cylinders from four districts in the area. These are intended to carry additional inventories that are manufactured with increasing demand in mind and sold to private hospitals facing shortages.

On Saturday, the district administration searched for 600 empty jumbo cylinders from Gadchiroli, Bandara, Gondia, and Amrabati.

The district collector’s office, co-director of the industrial sector, NMC and FDA jointly monitor oxygen supply.

City commissioner Radhakrishnan B said the situation on Sunday was better. “Some hospitals were overreacting and demanding an unnecessarily large supply. This was sorted out. 400 cylinders were brought in from the outside. NMC introduced last year’s approved cylinders. I’m buying more. ”

Jalaj Sharma, an additional municipal commissioner, said the supply and distribution system is regulated by four authorities. “This system is already in place because every hospital has its own partnership. We’re just on the lookout for increased consumption,” he said.

Dr. Ashok Arbat, president of VHA, said that until last night, many hospitals were staring at having to discharge patients. “Specific measures have been taken, but we haven’t been able to change the situation overnight. So far, we haven’t complained, but there’s no guarantee for tomorrow,” he said.

Some hospitals said they had informed them that their suppliers could not increase their supply any further. “I need two liquid tankers a day. I only get one from Butiboli. If that continues, I may have to discharge the patient,” he said.

Another director said he had purchased an oxygen concentrator from outside the state.

“Concentrators have converted air into gas, reducing our reliance on government and manufacturers. We encourage others to use concentrators,” he said. Indian News Republic